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This Italian wine is dark purple in the glass. It offers aromas of dark, ripe cherries and Chinese five spice and flavors of stone fruit and dark berries with hints of leather. Soft tannins with a nice level of acidity.
Lovers of Chianti will enjoy this affordable Sangiovese.
Pairings: Grilled beef, cured meats and cheese platter, pasta with red sauce.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): Sangiovese (90%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%)
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Price: $20
This is just one of those affordable sparkling wines that is great as an aperitif and also paired with food.
This Prosecco is golden in the glass with tons of tiny bubbles. On the nose, it offers big fruity aromas and in the mouth it’s creamy, foamy with bubbles with a very dry, pleasant finish.
Pairings: Bubbly pairs well with many things ranging from a cheese and cold cut platter to lobster to beef tenderloin to dessert.
Style: Sparkling
Grape Type(s): Prosecco
Region: Veneto, Italy
Around $10
Had this wine with both lobster pasta and grilled Branzino and it complimented the dishes perfectly.
In the glass, this Tuscan wine is pale yellow with a slight greenish tint. On the nose, it’s very faint, almost non-existent. In the mouth, it’s delicate with fruity aromas of green apple and pear with bright acidity for a crisp finish. Really enjoyable.
Pairings: Seafood, grilled fish or chicken. Pasta with olive oil and garlic.
Style: White
Grape Type(s): 90% Grechetto and 10% Vernaccia
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Around $15
Bright purplish ruby in the glass, this affordable Italian wine has a ripe dark fruit nose laced with spiced notes. In the mouth, it’s round with a nice balance of rich dark fruit and chocolate with good acidity.
Had this 2007 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Fattoria Del Cerro paired with rare duck and it was a nice pairing.
Pairings: Grilled chicken or pork, cheese course, mushroom risotto.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo Nero
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Around $20
Paired this Tuscan wine with my cheese course at a recent dinner party and it matched up well. Lighter and fruitier than its counterpart, Brunello di Montalcino, this wine didn’t overwhelm the mild soft cheeses and stood up to the stinkier, riper ones.
In the glass, the 2009 Castello Di Camigliano Rosso di Montalcino is vibrant red and it offers bright fruit on the nose. In the mouth, it’s well-balanced with a dark berry mixed with mushroomy/earthy flavors. Meant to be drunk young, this affordable wine can be served on a Tuesday night with pizza or at a party with more complex dishes.
Pairings: Grilled chicken or pork, cheese course, pasta with red sauce.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): Sangiovese
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Around $22
Bought a 2-pound porterhouse steak to share with my guy last week and wanted a special wine to pair with it. The 2005 Fattoria La Lecciaia Brunello Di Montalcino fit the bill beautifully.
On the nose, this Italian wine is an explosion of ripe dark berries and Bing cherries with earthy notes. On the palate, this full-bodied wine is big and beautiful. Lots of ripe blackberry and stone fruit flavors laced with exotic spices, almost chewy in consistency with classic Brunello silkiness. The finish is long with a little pepper to end a great sip.
Pairings: Grilled red meat, slowly-simmered red sauce.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): Sangiovese
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Around $30
This Italian wine is vibrant red in the glass. The 2009 Coltibuono Chianti Classico offer spiced red berries on the nose and big berry flavors on the palate with a little chocolate and some earthiness. Nice level of acidity and long, pleasant finish.
Pairings: Pasta and red sauce. Grilled meats.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): Sangiovese
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Around $15.
I had the pleasure of sipping this wine last week, first, paired with oysters on the half shell, then, with seared halibut atop risotto. This grape was new to me and I loved it both as an aperitif and as a food-friendly wine. Think – unoaked Chardonnay meets Sauvignon Blanc.
In the glass, it is golden yellow and just very pretty. On the nose, it offers bright floral, fruity notes. On the palate, there are layers of ripe honeydew melon, peach and papaya matched with a nice level of acidity. The finish is long and dry.
At this price point, it is a great white that everyone will enjoy.
Pairings: Sauteed halibut or cod. Raw oysters, clams or mussels.
Style: White
Grape Type(s): Grechetto
Region: Umbria, Italy
Around $20
This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding to my repertoire as it is truly enjoyable.
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